Since most EV batteries are on the car floor, is this just the best place for it?
Okay, so by now, we have all been exposed to way more electric vehicles (EVs) on our roads and this means that we can now notice many patterns that we otherwise would not have known when EVs were so rare that many Malaysians were unaware of their existence. So what have we learned now?
Well, wile many EVs from different brands tend to have small differences here and there to set them apart just like many internal combustion engine (ICE ) cars do, but one thing most, if not all, EVs do have in common is the fact that their batteries tend to be placed on the floor of the car.
Moreover, so many EVs use this same layout, so many people will be asking, is this just the superior battery layout? Is this the safest place for EV batteries? Are there any other potential layouts? Well, these answers are very simple, depending on how you define the word “superior,” then yes, this is the superior layout.
EV batteries are placed at the bottom of the car to lower the center of gravity, improve handling, maximize interior space, enhance safety, ensure effective cooling, optimize aerodynamics, and facilitate modular maintenance and upgrades. If the batteries were placed elsewhere, then drivers wouldn’t be able to enjoy these benefits.
However, is there any alternative? Well yes, if EV batteries could be packaged differently, then the famous EV “frunk” or “front trunk” which gives owners more space where the engine bay would be on an ICE vehicle. The Rolls-Royce Spectre does something like this and if it works in that car, why not any other EV too?
On top of that, the strategic placement of the EV batteries on the car floor is a well-thought-out engineering decision that takes into account all the aforementioned factors, contributing to the unique characteristics of EVs, but it does not necessarily mean that this is the best way for EV batteries to be placed.
Well, at the end of the day, the choice lies with the manufacturers. If more EV manufacturers wish to try some different battery layouts, then they will, if not, well, then why mess with a formula that works? Either way, the batteries being on the bottom of the car are still a good formula so I don’t mind either way.
What do you guys think, though? Do you think EV batteries being under the floor of the car is the way it should be or do you have an alternative?
